PHYTOREMEDIATION OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN SOIL: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Soil heavy metal pollution poses a significant threat to global ecological integrity and human health. Phytoremediation has emerged as a research focal point due to its eco-friendly nature and advantages in in-situ remediation. Based on the Web of Science Core Collection, this study retrieved 1,536 English-language articles published between 2010 and 2020 and performed a bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace and Excel. The analysis elucidates the current status and evolutionary trends in the field by examining publication volume, collaborative networks (authors, institutions, and countries), keyword dynamics (co-occurrence, clustering, and bursts), and highly cited literature. The results indicate that: (1) The annual number of publications has exhibited a consistent upward trend over the past 11 years. (2) China holds a dominant position in this field, with a robust institutional cooperation network centered around the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Science and Technology of China, and Northwest A&F University. While author collaborations remain relatively decentralized, localized cohesive networks have formed, notably those led by Lebrun and Khalid. (3) Research frontiers are dynamically evolving, with a primary focus on remediation mechanisms, technological innovation, and efficacy evaluation. The research is increasingly advancing toward systematization, multifunctionality, and sustainability. (4) Highly cited publications consist predominantly of comprehensive reviews that systematically synthesize the conceptual frameworks and mechanisms of action in phytoremediation.